In the next two seasons the Blues unearthed Ed Curnow and Tom Bell in December, with all of those bargains except Casboult featuring against the Power and already combining for 254 AFL games.

When you toss those workhorses in with top-three selections Judd, Marc Murphy, Bryce Gibbs, Andrew Walker and Matthew Kreuzer, the hole in the list can be traced to a three-year blackout of prized talent.

Carlton supporters would have hoped early selections from 2009-11 would be around the 50 games mark and set to transform into some of the league’s best players.

Instead Kane Lucas (pick No. 12), Matthew Watson (18) and Josh Bootsma (22) have combined for just 66 games with only Watson featuring in Round 1.

They appear stuck in the wilderness. The Blues still reckon Watson will make it and Bootmsa’s raw talent is undeniable, even if he polarises the fan base.

Josh Bootsma polarises the Blues’ fan base.Source: News Limited

Almost all of those follow-up selections — Marcus Davies, Rohan Kerr, Luke Mitchell and Pat McCarthy — have since been axed.

It was a tough time for recruiters, with the expansion clubs picking the eyes out of those drafts with the best dozen 17-year-olds before it began and then hogging the early picks. Watson at pick 18? Closer to 35.

Richmond enjoyed opposite fortunes in that window, but while the Blues played finals four of the past five seasons, the Tigers only crashed into September last year — falling to Carlton.

The Tigers, benefiting from earlier selections, jagged Dustin Martin, Reece Conca and Brandon Ellis as their top picks from 2009-11.

The Blues’ haul since 2012, when Shane Rogers was put in charge, is too early to judge, but is regarded by talent experts as very strong.

Troy Menzel was a top-three talent stolen at No. 12, Nick Graham is a blond ball magnet with enormous drive and last year’s first pick, clearance specialist Patrick Cripps, is fresh from a sizzling maiden summer and pushing for a fast-tracked debut.

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Comments on this story

SpiritDying Posted at 3:30 PM March 19, 2014

Unfortunately I think we have more problems when it comes to development - there have been plenty of young kids with talent but Carlton can't seem to get them ready for senior footy like other teams can. Some never even get a chance and just get dumped or even traded to another Club where they improve dramatically. Don't know why this happens but it has been happening for quite some time, Ratts had his "favourites" who got games without earning their spot and unfortunately Malthouse seems pretty much the same - some kids just won't get a chance to develop and we don't have enough "versatility", when the wheels fall off a game plan that's it end of story. What was once a great thing about Carlton was when we had a coach like Parkin who would just turn the team upside down and try players in different positions or new players if a plan wasn't working which could completely turn the game around - the likes of Ratts and Malthouse don't do this, when the wheels fall off we just go into "defeated" mode and it just takes all the passion out of your footy. Everyone loses but most supporters respect teams going down with a fight not teams that just give up and go into "give up" mode!

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